bound 1 of 5

noun (1)

Definition of boundnext
1
as in limit
a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go the language in the novel really is beyond the bounds of decency

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2
as in confines
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something colored outside the bounds of the drawing

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bound

2 of 5

noun (2)

as in leap
an act of leaping into the air the kangaroo took one giant bound and was gone

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bound

3 of 5

verb (1)

1
as in to define
to mark the limits of the country is bounded by water on two sides

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2
as in to border
to serve as a border for being bounded on all sides by the Alps has helped Switzerland maintain its neutrality

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bound

4 of 5

verb (2)

1
as in to hop
to move with a light springing step the child giggled and bounded off to play with her friends

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to leap
to propel oneself upward or forward into the air a rabbit bounded down the garden path

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bound

5 of 5

adjective

ˈbau̇nd How to pronounce bound (audio)
as in determined
fully committed to achieving a goal I am bound and determined to write a novel before I turn 30

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bound
Noun
In the same way that no investor would use a securities broker not covered by FINRA, no consumer or business would use an AI product developed outside the bounds of a self-regulatory organization’s standards. — William R. Gruver, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026 But replays showed Washington stepped out of bounds at the Bengals 48. — ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
Verb
But previous grids had been tightly bounded—patches of orthogonal civilization within an arcing and twisting terrain. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 The old ranch hand cut a surprisingly sprightly figure in his warehouselike clinic, bounding from room to room. — Kyle Paoletta, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Adjective
The bound paper booklets in which students hand-write their responses to test questions have surged in popularity during the AI explosion. — Jamil Zaki, CNBC, 12 May 2026 The Dodgers’ split-squad group that journeyed the 14 miles from Glendale (and ultimately lost to Texas, 7-6) was largely a skeleton crew of Triple-A bound prospects and wannabes. — Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bound
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bound
  1. limit
  2. edge
  3. leap
  4. define
  5. border
  6. hop
  7. jump
  8. determined
Noun
  • Items for babies and children up to age three face the strictest limits.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Practicing attorneys who specialize in financial services and debt collection interviewed by The Star were split over whether the 15% limit applies to medical debt.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of limit
Noun
  • Details like floor-to-ceiling glass and oak ceilings add to the home’s grandeur, and a fire pit at the edge of the lawn—plus private beach access—are ideal for travelers who want to soak in the salty breeze.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026
  • For a cold moment the silence locked a grip on our table, though it was broken, at the edges, by the golf commentators moaning and harrumphing, Rory McIlroy having had a canary on a seventeenth fairway somewhere this championship Sunday.
    — Kevin Barry, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of edge
Noun
  • Returning to those stocks is a real leap of faith, but Best Buy has been moving up nicely.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The biggest leap belongs to Missouri after the Tigers throttled Florida, 45-17, just a week after the Gators looked like worldbeaters in their dominant win over Ole Miss.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of leap
Verb
  • Introduced in 1962, Carlo Riva’s shapely mahogany runabout had become boating’s ultimate status symbol, marrying flawless craftsmanship and twin-V-8 power with styling that defined la dolce vita.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
  • They’re now faced with the daunting task of further defining distinct identities for multiple WB labels like New Line and Clockwork.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of define
Verb
  • In contrast, the United States borders two benign neighbors and enjoys open sailing on two vast oceans.
    — Robert B. Zoellick, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Neighboring Pennsylvania is battling a fast-spreading ‌outbreak, ⁠with 977 cases and five deaths as of October 2, mostly in rural counties that border New York, the order said.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of border
Verb
  • Mayor Brandon Johnson hopped on a bike on Wednesday morning to help Chicago Public Schools students celebrate National Walk & Roll Day, a day meant to get students, parents, and teachers moving.
    — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • So Straker hopped on a Blade and helicoptered out East to schmooze at Sant Ambroeus.
    — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of hop
Verb
  • Barkley delivered a nasty spin move that left him slightly sideways, forcing him to jump and then leapfrog backward.
    — Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Shares of Palantir have jumped nearly 47% over the past three months.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of jump
Adjective
  • Zaslav and the Warner board drove a hard bargain, rejecting a series of takeover offers by Paramount CEO David Ellison that started at $18 a share in cash with the offer propelled ever higher by the determined Ellison.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
  • But the Oscar-winning writer of 2010’s The Social Network remained determined not to go back to that well.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of determined

Browse Nearby Words

bouncy
bound
boundaries
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Cite this Entry

“Bound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bound. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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